Vapor arc lamp and starting means therefor



Nov. 17, 1931. J. BUTTOLPH I VAPOR ARC LAMP AND STARTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 11, 1926 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY Patented a... 17, 1931 UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE LEROY J. BUTTOLPE, GRANTWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB '1'0 GENERAL mc'nuc VAPOR LAMP COKYANY, OI EOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 01' m JERSEY V4203. ARC LAMP AND STARTING MEANS '1 11113 Application filed September 11, 1826. Serial ll'o. 134,815.

The present invention relates to electric vapor are devices having therein a 11q111 d which is the source of a vapor for the arc. The invention relates more particularly to such a device in which such a liquid serves as one of the electrodes of the arc. Thainvention further relates to vapor arc devlces having a liquid source of vapor in wh1ch the liquid is utilized to seal the interlor of an arc enclosing envelope; and the invention also extends to cover a vapor source liquid electrode which serves to seal an arc enclosing envelope from the exterior.

Various objects of the invention and advantages thereof will be obvious from the following particular description of forms of apparatus embodying the invention and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also conslsts 1n certain new and useful features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form of apparatus embodying the invention with certain varlations therein, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation view in perspectlve of a vapor arc lamp embodying the invention and auxiliary apparatus therefor,

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are vertical sectional views of terminal boxes for the vapor arc device,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a terminal box such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with an electrical terminal ending therein, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevation views of electrodes of vapor are devices having tubular extensions for connection to a respective terminal box.

In the drawings the vapor arc lamp envelope 2 which is of glass, quartz or other suitable material and which is in the form of a U is carried by the standard 4 with the terminal bulbs 6 and 7 at the same level but slightly below the bend of the U. Said standard 4 also carries the reflector hood 9 on the arm 11 which is adjustable with the handle 12. The standard 4 is adjustable in height throu h the screw 5 which secures two parts thereo together.

In the embodiment of the lamp illustrated may be of solid material of the type well known in the art and that various numbers of electrodes are used to suit the lam or other vapor arc device to the nature 0 the current and other factors in a manner well known in the art.

From each of the electrode chambers 6 and 7 there extends downward a respective tube 14 and 14 which next to said chambers are preferably glass tubes sealed to the wall of the chamber envelope in manners such as are illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. From this point on or at any intermediate point the tube may be of other material such as rubber or metal but for purposes of description the tube will be considered of glass throughout. In Fig. 6 the tube 14a has a trap 16 therein for holding a quantity of liquid in the electrode chamber when the tube 14a is used to drain liquid from the device.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 the tubes 14 at their lower ends terminate each in a separate box or compartment 20 which is full of liquid 21 which is the material of the electrode of chamber 6. Attached to each of said boxes 20 is means for applying pressure to the liquid therein for the purpose of raising its level. Such a means is shown in Fig. 2 in the form of a bellows or sylphon 22 which connects with box 20 through the opening 24 therein. In Fig. 3 there is illustrated an alternate form which comprises the piston 26 which operates in the cylinder 27 which extends through the top of the box and down into the liquid 21. Piston 26 is hollow and tends to float on the liquid 21, and a handle 28 serves for pushing the piston down to apply pressure onto the liquid. At the top of cylinder 27 the stuffing box 30 serves to make a close fit between piston-rod 28 and the enclosure of liquid 21. About the rod 28 is the conical collar 32 which at an extreme upper position seats against the inner surface of the conical end 34 of said cylinder 27 and serves to insure increasingly tight closure for the enclosure system when pressures in the lamp or equivalent device on which it is used rise during operation thereof. The liquid in the system is supplied under a pressure sufficient to cause itto extend up to and into its respective'electrode chamber 6, and the quantity of liquid in the system is so provided that pressing down the bellows 22 or piston 26 causes the liquid of the system to extend and flow through the lamp envelope to short circuit the device. When aliquid and a solid electrode cooperate in the device the starting is effected by pressing down the bellows or piston of the liquid enclosure. When a plurality of liquid electrodes cooperate the system is started by actuating either or all of the bellows or pistons to move one or a plurality of bodies of liquid to short circuit the system.

In an alternate form of the device, however, the moving of the liquid to short circuit the electrodes is dispensed with and starting achieved by means of a high voltage reaction in a manner well known in the art. In such a case. as in others the invention covers the method and means for sealing the envelope of the lamp or other device by means of the liquid which is the source of the are sustaining vapor.

A shown in Fig. 4 the liquid 21 in each of boxes 20 has an electrical terminal 35 ending therein with a liquid tight packing 36. Said terminals 35, 35 as shown in Fig. 1 extending to auxiliary apparatus for the lamp 2 such as are used for regulating and controlling the electrical characteristics of the lamp circuit in a manner well known in the art. The box 38 contains this apparatus, and carries a switch 40 therefor. Current is supplied through the mains 42, 42.

In the use and operation of the apparatus herein shown and described for illustrating the invention, connection being made to a suitable source of current supply through lead mains 42, 42 the mercury vapor lamp 2 is started by compressing the bellows 22, 22 to cause the mercury in boxes 20. 20, tubes 14, 14 and electrode chambers 6, 7 to flow along the body of the envelope of the lamp 2 to join the two bodies of mercury and thereby short circuit the lamp. Pressure is then vreleased from bellows 22, 22 to permit the mercury to separate and flow back and thereby strike an arc and permit the mercury to return to the normal operating position in which a quantity or body 21' remains in each of said electrode chambers 6 and 7 and extends down through the tubes 14, 14' for connection through the leads 35. 35 and apparatus in box 38 to the mains 42, 42. The are having been drawn and the liquid returned to normal position the lamp will operate in a manner well known in the art.

Although I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the several steps of the process and in its operation and in the form and details of the apparatus illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the'spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination in a mercury vapor arc device, an envelope, tubes connecting with said envelope at spaced apart positions and extending downwardly to sealed chambers, said chambers being in fixed relation to said envelope, mercury completely filling said chambers and said tubes and extending into said envelope to form electrodes, and means to apply pressure to, and to release pressure on, the mercury in each of said chambers at will to move said mercury electrodes into and out of contact with each other to draw an are between said electrodes.

2. In combination in a mercury vapor arc device apparatus, an envelope, tubes connecting with said envelope at spaced apart positions and extending downwardly from said envelope to separate mercury sources in fixed relation to said envelope, and means for holding the mercury under pressure in the tubes and for extending it in operable relation with the envelope space to form electrodes of the lamp and pressure controlling means for increasing the pressure on said mercury to connect the electrodes formed thereby and to disconnect them to draw an arc in the device.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 24th day of August A. D. 1926.

LEROY J. BUTTOLPH. 

